Remember this fabric, I found what it has to be made into.

“A LADY’S BODICE OF BLUE SILK BROCADE
POSSIBLY DUTCH, FIRST HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY “

I’m hoping I’ll have enough for this bodice since it looks very simple but still have enough yardage to be able to make a later style 18th century jacket to go over my blue quilted petticoat. I’m hoping they will have more photosif I buy the auction catalog. Maybe not…

Why buy yardage for miniature projects where there is so much waste in the world that you can harness! (more…)

What a lovely pink and white stripe! I wish I had bought some too.

Oooo… I need to plan a gown for this fabric. It followed me home.

The third dress we were able to observe showing the center front seam:

The gowns were handled by the curator to show some specifics of what they found. Do not worry that wasn’t a stray hand reaching out to touchy touchy.
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This gown was completed and delivered last week. I hope she enjoyed wearing it on her big day: 10/31/2008. Here follows the beginning of the dress diary:

Starting out my client knew she wanted a red wedding dress. She had examples of heavily ruched and pleated dresses as well as with some gorgeous 1950s dresses. Another gown in her examples featured a decorative petticoat that was intentionally showing. We decided the dress would definitely be knee-calf length with a decorative petticoat and a pleated bodice. We poured over pieces of fabric and lace in my workroom.

These are an example of the general idea of what was going to be sourced for the dress:

Of course the color would have to be the exact right “shade” for her complexion and taste. And the lace or embroidered netting needed to be light and airy not heavy or crocheted.
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All the fabrics are collected for a new Victorian outfit for one of my clients. The three tier-skirt is in progress and I look forward to sharing photos as things progress.

My client took a trip to LA fabric district and picked out this lovely peach shot-with-white silk and white silk for binding.

I’m testing out a color for flossing (not completed on the swatch) which was later abandoned because it was too cream and blending in too much with the base color. Thread, ribbon, and grommets are tested. The swatch also provides information on the actual turn of cloth for the final construction and patterning adjustments.

It is always great to figure out the shrinkage for fabrics in different cleaning processes. Here is the example of one of my test swatches before writing on the final results:

A lovely, deep & rich purple-shot-with-black silk taffeta:

I have a limited amount of this but can buy more if a project demanded a lot of yardage.

Blue & Silver with floral design damask:

I fell in love with this fabric, as it screams “make me into an 18th century gown!”, but alas, there was only 5 yards total on the bolt. We searched the store in hopes of finding another remnant hiding between the cracks. No such luck. I have to nix the robe a la française style or make it for a child. A miniature sample gown isn’t such a bad idea…